Harness Racing Victoria’s summer carnival will shine ever bright in 2026 after it stacked six huge cups across six Saturday nights.
The path to Victoria's famed A G Hunter Cup and Yabby Dam Farms Great Southern Star, set for Melton on February 14, will be paved in gold, with Cranbourne and Kilmore hosting $150,000 Group 1 cups after the traditional Bendigo, Shepparton, and Ballarat feature nights.
"The summer is always a magical time for harness racing in Victoria, and this revamped carnival is sure to take things to a new level in 2026," Harness Racing Victoria's Chief Executive Officer Matt Isaacs said.
Cranbourne and Kilmore elevated their pacing ($150,000) and trotters ($75,000) cups, and Ballarat upped its trotters cup ($75,000), prizemoney increases that have created a showcase of Group 1s in the build-up to the A G Hunter Cup and Great Southern Star.
"HRV has worked closely with these clubs to create a sensational summer and the clubs are congratulated for boosting prizemoney and helping create a wonderful six weeks of harness racing," Isaacs said.
A SUMMER OF SUPER SATURDAYS:
| Jan 10 | Bendigo | $75,000 | G2 Pacing Cup | $75,000 | G1 Maori Mile |
| Jan 17 | Shepparton | $50,000 | G3 Pacing Cup | $30,000 | G3 Trotters Cup |
| Jan 24 | Ballarat | $100,000 | G2 Pacing Cup | $75,000 | G1 Trotters Cup |
| Jan 31 | Cranbourne | $150,000 | G1 Pacing Cup | $75,000 | G1 Trotters Cup |
| Feb 7 | Kilmore | $150,000 | G1 Pacing Cup | $75,000 | G1 Trotters Cup |
| Feb 14 | Melton | $250,000 | G1 A G Hunter Cup | $250,000 | G1 Great Southern Star |
Kilmore Racing Club Chairman Mark Cruise said the club was thrilled to have its cups as key summer features.
"The Jet Roofing Kilmore Pacing Cup resonates like few others because of its storied history of great winners and big crowds, and I am rapt it is finding its rightful home as part of this carnival," Cruise said.
"The club's sizable prizemoney investment is great for the industry and our trots community. I can't wait for Australasia's best horses to be back at Kilmore, fighting for honours in front of a big trots-loving crowd."
Trots Cranbourne General Manager Cam Gallagher said the change would solidify the club's place as a premier country cup.
"We have prioritised investing in harness racing through our cup for more than a decade and have been rewarded with champions like Im Themightyquinn, Mr Feelgood and Leap To Fame thrilling racegoers," Gallagher said.
"With this change we will have our richest ever DECRON Cranbourne Gold Cup, and being part of this carnival ensures we'll have a field to match, which will be fantastic for our club and the sport."
Ballarat and District Trotting Club Chief Executive Officer Paul Rowse said they were excited to continue their long connection with Victoria's premier carnival.
"The summer has become supercharged with more feature racing in January in Victoria – it will be the destination," Rowse said. "Ballarat, as always, is happy to continue to be a big part of that, including upgrading our trotters cup to Group 1 status. We congratulate Kilmore and Cranbourne, whose presence strengthens the carnival."
The announcement comes as HRV finalises its 400-meeting calendar for the 2025-26 financial year.
It includes the Victoria Cup being a week later, on the third Saturday in October (18th), to capitalise on a premium wagering day, which features Melbourne's Caulfield Cup and Sydney's Everest.
The Inter Dominion series shift from December to July has allowed for the Breeders Crown final to be moved to December 13 and the Vicbred Super Series to start later, in November. The changes give the Vicbred Super Series clear air from The Eureka and New South Wales' Breeders Challenge.
